Protective face mask



PROTECTIVE FACE MASK Filed 0612. 2, 1964 INVENTOR.

G140 VS 6/4/5556 HTTOEA/EYJ United States Patent 3,310,812 PROTECTIVE FACE MASK Gladys F. Gaisser, 249 High St., Bulfalo, N.Y. 14204 Filed Oct. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 401,020 3 Claims. (Cl. 2-9) This invention relates to face-protecting devices, and more particularly to a transparent face mask adapted to fit over the upper portion of a persons face and to protect the persons eyes, nose and ears, as Well as the adjacent portions of the persons face, against wind, rain, dust, and other adverse atmospheric conditions.

' A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved protective face mask which is simple in construction, which is comfortable towear, which provides good visibility, and which does not intefere in any way with a persons breathing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved protective face mask which is inexpensive to fabricate, which is durable in construction, which provides a high degree of protection to the eyes, nose and side portions of a persons face, as well as to the persons cars, which prevents disarray of a persons makeup under inclement weather conditions, and which does not become fogged by the persons breath while being worn.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved transparent protective face mask which is designed to protect the eyes, nose and ears of a person from wind, dust, rain, and other atmospheric conditions, which minimizes the discomfort of being eposed to these adverse weather conditions without interfering with visibility, which is neat in appearance, and which protects the persons face against chapping and other adverse effects otherwise caused by win-d, dust, and the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved transparent face mask shaped to cover the eyes, nose, ears and adjacent portions of a persons face and to be received immediately below the persons .hairline at the sides of the persons head, the mask being contoured so as to generally conform with the shape of a persons face while providing ample clearance for the persons mouth and for normal breathing, serving as a means for protecting a persons cosmetic arrangements from the effects of adverse weather conditions, such as wind, rain, dust, or the like.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a person wearing an improved protective face mask constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the face mask illustrated in FIGURE 1 viewed from the rear.

FIGURE 3 is a somewhat enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawings, the improved protective face mask is designated generally at 11 and comprises a body of transparent flexible sheet plastic material which is relatively thin but which has a sufiicient amount of rigidity to resist wind or dust particles blown thereagainst. The body, designated at 12, is formed with the respective side wings 13, 13, arranged symmetrically relative to the vertical center line of the body, as viewed in FIGURE 2. The side wings are of sufficient size to cover the side portions of a persons face when the device is worn, as will be presently described. The side wings 13, 13 are formed with convex side edges 14, 14 which are directed so as to converge downwardly, as shown in FIGURE 2, and with an arcuately concave bottom intermediate edge portion 15 located between the respective apex portions 16, 16 at the opposite lower corners of body 12. The

3,310,812 Patented Mar. 28, 1967 concave edge 15 is of substantial height so as to provide suflicient clearance for a persons mouth when the device, is worn in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The body is further formed with a concave intermediate top edge portion 17 shaped to substantialy conform to the curvature of a persons forehead when the mask is worn. The top margins of the side wings 13, 13 are folded downwardly, as shown at. 18, 18 and are suitably stitched so as to define rigid top hems on the top edges of the side wings, said hems being substantially straight, as shown in FIGURE 2, and being shaped to fit beneath the hairline of a person at the opposite sides of the persons face, in the manner substantially shown in FIG- URE 1.

Designated respectively at 19, 19 are loop members of flat strip material which are secured at locations spaced inwardly substantial distances from the side edges 14,14, as by means of eyelets 20, 20 to the upper portions of the inside surfaces of the side wings 13, 13, and engaged through the respective loop members 19, 19 are elastic bands 21, 21 adapted to be engaged around a persons ears when the device is worn in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1. I

The mask 11 is mounted over a persons eyes and nose in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1, with the side wings 13, 13 overlying the side portions of the persons face and the ears, in the manner illustrated, with the loops 21 engaged around the ears so as to hold the mask in proper position. cover the major portions of the sides of the persons face as Well as to overlie the persons ears, as shown in FIG- URE l, and the body 12 is of sufficient size so that when it is bowed in the manner illustrated inFIGURE 1, the intermediate portion thereof is deflected upwardly= at its lower portion to provide ample clearance for the persons nose and mouth. The loop members 19, 19 are at a sufficient height on the side wings 13, 13 such that when the bands 21 are engaged over the persons ears, the upper portion of the mask is placed substantially in tension so as to cause the concave top edge 17 torest closely adjacent to and bear against the persons forehead. The side edges 14 of the wings 13 are shaped so as to conform with the general curvature of the side portions of the persons jaw so as to substantially merge therewith, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, thus enhancing the appearance of the mask when worn. Due to the outward deflection of the lower intermediate portion of the mask, and due to the provision of the concave bottom intermediate edge portion 15, substantial clearance is provided between the lower intermediate portion of the mask and the persons nose, and the mouth is fully exposed, whereby to allow ample ventilation in the lower forward portion of the mask, which prevents the mask from becoming fogged by the persons breath. At the same time, the side wings 13, 13 lie closely adjacent to the persons cheeks and are held thereagainst by the elastic loops 21, 21.

As will be readily apparent, when wearing the mask, a person is protected against the entry of foreign particles into the persons eyes and nose, and the various cosmetic arrangements, as employed in a womans facial makeup, are protected against damage by winds, dust, rain, or other adverse atmospheric conditions. Also, since the rigid top edge portions 18, 18 are located so as to substantially underlie the side portions of the persons hairline, the wearing of the mask does not disturb the persons hair arrangement.

The protective face mask is especially valuable for use under winter weather conditions, as in snow storms, rain storms, sleet or hail storms and during exposure to high winds. When used under such conditions, a person may breathe normally and in perfect comfort.

The side wings are of sufficient size'to.

When properly dimensioned, the mask may be worn over eyeglasses without interfering therewith, thereby serving to prevent fogging of the glasses under stormy or inclement weather conditions. As previously explained, the top intermediate edge portion 17 fits relatively closely against the persons forehead, but the forward central portion of the mask flares downwardly and outwardly sufficiently so that ample clearance may be provided for the use of eyeglasses. I

The transparent body 12 may be suitably tinted, if so desired.

While a specific embodiment of an improved protective face mask has been dis-closed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A protective face mask comprising a body of transparent flexible sheet plastic material formed with side wings shaped to cover the sides of a persons face, said body being formed with a concave intermediate top edge portion substantially conforming to the curvature of a persons forehead and being formed with a concave intermediate bottom edge portion to provide clearance for a persons mouth when the 'body is engaged over the persons nose and eyes, said side wings having relatively rigid top edge portions shaped to underlie the persons hairline, respective loop members secured to the inner surfaces of the side wings .at locations spaced substantial distances inwardly from the side edges of said side wings, and respective elastic bands engaged through said loop members and being located so as to be engageable over the persons ears, whereby the side wings substantially overlie the persons ears when the elastic bands are engaged over the ears.

2. A protective face mask comprising a body of transparent flexible sheet plastic material formed with side wings shaped to cover the sides of a persons face and having convex side edges, said body being formed with a concave intermediate top edge portion substantially conforming to the curvature of a persons forehead, and formed with a concave intermediate bottom edge portion to provide clearance for a persons mouth when the body is engaged over the persons nose and eyes, said side wings having relatively rigid top edge portions shaped to underlie the persons hairline, respective loop members secured to the upper portions of the inner surfaces of the side wings at locations spaced substantial distances inwardly from said side edges, and respective elastic bands engaged through said loop members and being located so as to be engaged over the persons ears, whereby the side wings substantially overlie the persons ears when the elastic bands are engaged over the ears.

3. A protective face mask comprising a body of transparent flexible sheet plastic material formed with side wings shaped to cover the sides of a persons face and having convex side edges, said body being formed with a concave intermediate top edge portion substantially conforming to the curvature of a persons forehead, said body being formed with a concave intermediate bot-tom edge portion to provide clearance for a persons mouth when the body is engaged over a persons nose and eyes, the top margins of the side wings being folded downwardly to define rigid top edge portions on the side wings shaped to underlie the persons hairline, respective loop members secured to the upper portions of the inner sur faces of the side wings at locations spaced substantial distances inwardly from said side edges, and respective elastic bands engaged through said loop members and being located so as to be engageable over the persons ears, whereby the side wings substantially overlie the persons ears when the elastic bands are engaged over the ears.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 450,515 4/1891 Lamb 2206 X 2,021,593 11/1935 Einson 2206 3,137,006 6/1964 Berlind 2-9 3,241,155 3/1966 Phillips 2-9 FOREIGN PATENTS 136,435 2/1934 Austria.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

A. R. GUEST, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PROTECTIVE FACE MASK COMPRISING A BODY OF TRANSPARENT FLEXIBLE SHEET PLASTIC MATERIAL FORMED WITH SIDE WINGS SHAPED TO COVER THE SIDES OF A PERSON''S FACE, SAID BODY BEING FORMED WITH A CONCAVE INTERMEDIATE TOP EDGE PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY CONFORMING TO THE CURVATURE OF A PERSON''S FOREHEAD AND BEING FORMED WITH A CONCAVE INTERMEDIATE BOTTOM EDGE PORTION TO PROVIDE CLEARANCE FOR A PERSON''S MOUTH WHEN THE BODY IS ENGAGED OVER THE PERSON''S NOSE AND EYES, SAID SIDE WINGS HAVING RELATIVELY RIGID TOP EDGE PORTIONS SHAPED TO UNDERLIE THE PERSON''S HAIRLINE, RESPECTIVE LOOP MEMBERS SECURED TO THE INNER SURFACES OF THE SIDE WINGS AT LOCATIONS SPACED SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCES INWARDLY FROM THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID SIDE WINGS, AND RESPECTIVE ELASTIC BANDS ENGAGED THROUGH SAID LOOP 